Yacht Interior Design Ideas & Refits

The term yacht can refer both to medium-sized sailboats and large, or particularly luxurious, motorboats. In both instances, people primarily use yachts for recreational purposes, such as taking pleasure cruises, as opposed to commercial applications, such as fishing. If you are thinking of decorating the interior of a new yacht, or refitting the interior of an existing one, there are several design ideas that can help. Does this Spark an idea?

Have a Plan

It is always a good idea to plan out where each element you are incorporating into your space will go. According to International Yacht Designers, before you start lugging in furniture and other items, make a sketch of your yacht's interior and experiment with different locations for different things. Leave enough space near doorways so that you and your guests can move easily from room to room. Also, make sure to measure all of the items you will be bringing in to the yacht prior to purchasing them, so you can make sure they will fit through the entranceway to your yacht's interior.

Contemporary

A popular theme in yacht interior designing is to make the rooms seem as if they could be part of an actual, land-based home. One idea for achieving this effect is to utilize a contemporary style, which is defined by straight lines and bold, solid colors. For example, in a yacht's living room area you could use off-white couches, off-white carpeting, horizontal wooden window blinds and wood-topped, rectangular coffee tables and end tables. According to Live Yachting, these elements will help give your space a relaxing, bright and open atmosphere. No matter what room or space in the yacht you are designing, arranging furniture in a symmetrical pattern along one of the room's axes is optimal for achieving a contemporary look.

Modern Minimalist

The goal of the modern minimalist style is to create simple, uncluttered and fashionable spaces while using the least amount of designing "stuff" as possible. In comparison to the contemporary style, modern minimalist abandons the notion of symmetry, and instead focuses on arrangements that maximize flow. In most instances, wall art is scarce or non-existent, and rounded elements take precedence over linear ones. According to Fopple, try using a polka dot rug in a living room or bedroom area to give your space some bold character. Other modern minimalist ideas include incorporating a circular, multi-level coffee table and installing wall seating that curves with the yacht's hull design.

Nautical

If you have a passion for the sea and humankind's seafaring history, a nautical-themed interior may be a good choice for your yacht. The nautical style typically incorporates old wooden furniture, maritime memorabilia, and white and blue color schemes. According to Better Homes and Gardens, some ideas include gluing shells to lamps, tables and other items and hanging up prints of shells, fish and other marine life.